Rolovich to transfer to Montana State

Jack Rolovich is transferring to Montana State, where he will have an opportunity to play during the 2006 season, the former Hawaii quarterback said.

Since the Bozeman, Mont., college is a Division I-AA program, Rolovich won't have to sit out a year as a transfer. He will have two seasons of eligibility.

After redshirting at UH in 2003, Rolovich played sparingly in 2004 and was not invited to fall camp before the just-completed 2005 season. Sophomore Colt Brennan started 10 games for the Warriors and backup Tyler Graunke, a second-year freshman, the other two. Rolovich said last month he intended to transfer.

Former UH running back Mike Bass helped recruit Rolovich to Montana State. Bass, a senior in 2005, played in six games for the Bobcats, accounting for 308 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.

"He said he loved it over there, even though the climate is a little different," Rolovich said. "The offense has some of the same concepts as UH except they run the ball a lot more. I wanted to stay in the West and their quarterback is a senior," Rolovich said.

Rolovich is the brother of former UH quarterback Nick Rolovich, who led UH to a 9-3 season in 2001.

"I'm always going to keep a little bit of Hawaii in my heart," Jack Rolovich said. "All the players were great to me, people were so friendly."

Five honored: Receiver Davone Bess was named College Football News' WAC Freshman of the Year yesterday. He was joined on the WAC first team by Brennan, receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen, offensive lineman Samson Satele and linebacker Kila Kamakawiwo'ole.

Heisman finalists: Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart of Southern California will be back in New York on Saturday, along with Texas quarterback Vince Young, when the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the nation's best college football player.

The Downtown Athletic Club invited only those three players to the presentation ceremony.

Hawk wins Lombardi: Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk won the Rotary Lombardi Award as the nation's top college lineman or linebacker last night, becoming the fifth Buckeyes player to receive the honor.

The other three finalists were Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil, Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny and Texas defensive tackle Rod Wright.